Registered Dental Assistant (RDA)
Salary

Women comprise the majority of Registered Dental Assistants in the United States. Individuals in this line of work make around $17.17 per hour on average. Including potential for bonuses and profit sharing — peaking near $2K and $4K, respectively — total cash payment to Registered Dental Assistants can bottom out near $25K or peak near $50K depending on individual performance. While the specific employer and years of experience impact pay for this group, location is the most influential factor. Over a third report receiving medical coverage from their employers and just over two-fifths collect dental insurance. Most Registered Dental Assistants report high levels of job satisfaction. The data for this snapshot was collected from individuals who took PayScale's salary survey.

XTotal Pay combines base annual salary or hourly wage, bonuses, profit sharing, tips, commissions, overtime pay and other forms of cash earnings, as applicable for this job. It does not include equity (stock) compensation, cash value of retirement benefits, or the value of other non-cash benefits (e.g. healthcare).

XTotal Pay combines base annual salary or hourly wage, bonuses, profit sharing, tips, commissions, overtime pay and other forms of cash earnings, as applicable for this job. It does not include equity (stock) compensation, cash value of retirement benefits, or the value of other non-cash benefits (e.g. healthcare).

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Job Description for Registered Dental Assistant (RDA)

Registered dental assistants work alongside dentists to provide dental care for patients. Their duties are a mix of patient care, laboratory procedures, and clerical work. Exact responsibilities vary from state to state due to licensing requirements. Some patient-care tasks include setting up and sterilizing instruments, handing instruments to the dentist, preparing the patient for treatment, and educating patients on proper dental care. Many registered dental assistants also process dental x-rays, expose radiography, and perform lab duties such as making teeth casts and temporary crowns. Finally, registered dental assistants frequently work in administrative capacity. This includes scheduling appointments, maintaining patient records, and processing patient bills and payments.

Typically registered dental assistants work in private dental offices. In this environment, they work directly with a dentist, dental hygienists, and dental laboratory technicians. Some dental offices only have four-day work weeks (Monday-Thursday), and many registered dental assistants work during regular business hours. Registered dental assistants can also work in hospitals, dental schools, or clinics; these environments may have varied schedules and hours. Registered dental assistants can work full time or part time, depending on the position.

The exact education and licensint required to become a registered dental assistant varies from state to state. There is a national certification awarded to those who pass the Certified Dental Assistant examination. To be eligible to take this exam, a program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation must be completed. Many of these programs exist nationwide; they are offered at many community colleges, vocational schools, or technical institutes and typically take less than a year to complete. Some states have specific state licenses or additional licenses (such as a dental x-ray license). Many positions also require a current CPR certificate.

Many skills are needed to become a successful registered dental assistant. Excellent interpersonal skills are needed to comfort anxious dental patients. Also needed are great organizational skills, a keen attention to detail, good manual dexterity, and be able to work well with a team.

Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) Tasks

Take and develop patient x-rays, including digital (if certified).

Sterilize instruments and equipment.

Teach patients how to practice good oral hygiene.

Assist dentist during dental treatment procedures.

Maintain office records and supplies and schedule appointments.

Common Career Paths for Registered Dental Assistant (RDA)

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As Registered Dental Assistants transition into upper-level roles such as Registered Dental Hygienist, they may see a strong upturn in salary. Registered Dental Hygienists earn $67K on average per year. A Registered Dental Assistant often moves on to become a Registered Expanded Function Dental Assistant or a Dental Hygienist.

Dental Assistant Job Listings

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Popular Employer Salaries for Registered Dental Assistant (RDA)

Family Dental, Pacific Dental Services Incorporated, Western Dental Services, Inc., Family Dental Care, and DDS Inc. are some prominent firms with considerable interest in employing a large team of Registered Dental Assistants. Employees of DDS Inc. can expect to make the most, with the company offering a median salary of $46K; however, pay is widely dispersed from bottom to top, ranging from $29K to $63K.

While select Western Dental Centers employees may bring in up to $43K, a median salary of only $28K — the lowest in the field — suggests a serious lag in the earnings department.

Popular Skills for Registered Dental Assistant (RDA)

This chart shows the most popular skills for this job and what effect each skill has on pay.

Survey participants wield an impressively varied skill set on the job. Most notably, skills in Leadership, Order Inventory, Periodontics, and CAD/CAM are correlated to pay that is above average, with boosts in pay of 6 percent. At the other end of the pay range are skills like Microsoft Office. It is often found that people who know Patient Education are also skilled in Order Inventory and Scheduling.

Pay by Experience Level for Registered Dental Assistant (RDA)

Median of all compensation (including tips, bonus, and overtime) by years of experience.

Registered Dental Assistants with a lot of experience do not necessarily enjoy more money. Those in the early stages of their career can expect to make around $31K; however, individuals with five to 10 years of experience bring in $37K on average — a distinctly larger sum. Registered Dental Assistants with one to two decades of relevant experience report an average salary of approximately $40K. More than 20 years of experience mean a somewhat bigger median paycheck of $43K, but it's not much more than what less experienced people make.

Pay Difference by Location

For Registered Dental Assistants, working in the bustling city of Santa Rosa has its advantages, including an above-average pay rate. Registered Dental Assistants will also find cushy salaries in San Francisco (+30 percent) and San Jose (+14 percent). San Antonio is the lowest-paying area, 20 percent south of the national average. Two other places where employers offer below-median salaries are Nashville (14 percent less) and Houston (12 percent less).

Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) Reviews

What is it like working as a Registered Dental Assistant (RDA)?

Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) in Halifax:

"I love being an assistant."

Pros: I like helping people and making them feel good about themselves and being able to put a smile on there face:)